Hangin' with the fam...

Our favorite evening activity lately is hanging out on our front porch and longboarding through the neighborhood. We have a perfect street, with just enough pitch to make it exciting, but not enough to quite hit the point of "scary". Few cars and nice neighbors (who sometimes join us) make it a great trip around the block. (except for the one mean lady on Norwood who likes to tell us to get out of the street--whatever!) Scotty talked Armando into getting him his very own longboard for his birthday, which is still a couple of weeks away. Actually, I don't think Scotty needed to be very persuasive at all, and I have to admit that it is fun to all be able to go together. Armando did tell me that it probably wasn't very safe for me to push Cassie in the stroller while I was on my skateboard, so one of us is now on stroller duty. Cassie has gotten brave a few times and has me hold her hands while she stands on the board and gets pulled along! Its a ton of fun--stop by and join us!

I need to dedicate some time to my second grader, Jax. He is getting big and responsible and capable and I am totally amazed by him! Let me share a few of his comments from the last week. First, I asked him how his day was when he came home from school. The reply "It was so great. It just really was. I really enjoyed myself today." Picture him at saying this with a little half-grin and an air of amazement in his voice. A few days later I asked what he would like for dinner. The reply: "Whatever you want. It doesn't have to be anything fancy for me...I'd be ok with cereal." He was helping Armando with yardwork at the time and said this all with a glance over his shoulder as he continued working. He is quite the little man and I love his personality!
And my Scotty, the longboarding fiend! He is loving school, thrilled to be doing homework, and loves to flash me the "hang loose" sign along with a 'sweet' whenever he gets the chance. He did a report on Johnny Appleseed this week and is starting to be a good reader. He has also been awesome with Cassie when it is just the two of them home before school. What a little stud!
And Cassie...what can we say? She is a crazy two-year old! I was very impressed this week that she managed to share with another little girl her age! It is fun to have alone time with her while the boys are at school and she is starting to show more personality. Armando got her a barbie this week and she it thrilled! Our friend Mark babysat the kids last week and while they watched cartoons, Cassie apparently jumped off the couch and started clapping and waving during every girlie commercial. Hence, the new need for the barbie. I love having a girl!
And the parting shot...Armando decided that I did need a cool pic, so here it is! Remember it, because it may be the last one for another five years or so!

What a great week!

Scotty is officially a school boy! He had his first day of kindergarten last week and he absolutely loves it. He is in the afternoon class along with about six of our neighbor kids and is making new friends everyday. It is a little lonely with him and Jax gone because Cassie is usually taking her nap at the same time--I almost don't know what to do with myself--almost.
To celebrate the weekend (saturdays are much more special when you are in school) we took a hike with cousins up to Lake Mary. Cassie got to ride in style in the backpack, but the boys were awesome hikers. They practically ran the whole trail with the exception of stopping to test their rock climbing skills on huge boulders. Robyn and I would hear them comment "that was fun, but I need something a little more challenging." At one point Robyn went around the back of a rock to find Jackson hanging by his fingertips with still a body-length left to the ground. She helped him down and he said "huh. I'm not really sure how I got up that."
The boys spent about an hour throwing rocks into the lake from various perches. Since Big Cottonwood is a watershed area, you aren't allowed to swim, so skipping rocks and splashing is the next best activity. The boys weren't disappointed!
I was pleasantly surprised that hiking with Cassie on my back has actually gotten easier. She loved it, although she wasn't all that pleased when she got her pants muddy trying to follow her brothers along the banks.
And this picture just had to be included because she is so darn cute!!!!

The Summer Winds Down...

The Olympics has been inspirational to us all (no doubt especially to all us swimmers who are completely in awe of Micheal Phelps)! Jackson and Scotty were really into Team USA and begged every night for two weeks straight to have an extension on their bedtime. Dad was happy to oblige their wishes, especially since they both will start school this week! Scotty loved the swimming and had me teach him how to dive this last week. I have never seen a kid learn to do it so well so fast. Here he is on his second day of diving! Mind you, he had never been off a diving board this week either and this is the form he pulled out! i'm very proud, we haven't had a belly-flop yet!

Jackson and Isaak are turning into little fish too, and they are getting good! We spent the evening at Farmington Pool with Robyn and the kids (by the way, the twins have the best stroke that i have ever seen in five year-olds). They had a blast and I totally fit in with the crowd with the "Davis County" swim outfit that i was wearing. (it consisted of soccer shorts that belonged to Isaak--"hot pants", you can imagine why there are no pictures of it)
I had to put this one in of little Scotty looking so satisfied at his diving prowess...i have a picture of me at about the same age that this reminds me of. very sweet. And as the pools start to close down for the summer, our family is starting to rev-up for the winter. Armando and the kids got the snowboard gear out this week to see who would need what and everyone got very excited.
Especially Cassie, who made her preferences clear for what sport she would like to participate in! (of course, her father looks on in delighted approval). She knew immediately where to put her feet, and how to turn her head and body. I remember watching jackson snowboard last year and I couldn't believe how much he looked like Armando with his mannerisms and body language--cassie was the same way in the family room and she has never had her daddy show her how to do it! There's those dominant Armando genes coming through again! I did get my two cents in by putting her skis on her a few days later, and she seemed to be ok with them too! Looking forward to a winter with all the Kennon Crew on the snow!

Tough choices mama!

so the other day i needed a picture of myself. no problem right? except that i needed one of just me. we have thousands of pictures on our computer...and these were my choices after searching through 3 YEARS of our pictures. nice. do you like the "hey honey, strike a pose so i can see if our camera is working" or do you prefer...

a nice shot of my bootie? you can tell its me, right? not that i am complaining about not being in front of the lens, but this isn't really what i want saved for posterity.

She is 2!!!

A very happy birthday to our little Cassie! yes, this entry is a little late in the posting, but we love you cass! here she with her new favorite doggie and a cupcake...does life get any better?
i was reminded that cassie is two when i said "no" to her today and she turned and gave me a big old raspberry...complete with flying spit. lovely manners. we're working on it! but oh how she loves her daddy! she is all smiles for her daddy and can be found snuggling with him whenever she gets the chance.
she has got this guy wrapped around her finger and that's ok with him! this is going to be a great year of growing and playing together--here's to being two!

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous; and Jeana

that's right Jazz fans, here i am with Deron Williams (he was my date for the evening--i told armando next time i'm marrying for money!) so basically i'm famous...you can still be my friends though!

4th of July!

...and what would it be without watermelon? we had an awesome time on Friday at our neighborhood bash! jill and emily; thanks for planning such a great night. our friend kevan's band played and they are totally awesome and as you can see, we all had good things to eat!
the little princess sat in her throne all night and demanded the yummy stuff be brought to her to dribble all over her cute outfit that she picked out herself. (she is such a girl!)
After music and food we did a communal fireworks display in the street and the kids all took front row seats. Luke (our dogg) sat up front with all of them and was such an awesome pup--i think he may now be the neighborhood favorite dog!
we had A LOT of fireworks and i had fun playing around with my new camera trying to figure out a good way to do the pics. i am pretty sure that it actually has a fireworks mode, but i .couldn't find it. i played with the ISO instead and had pretty good luck.
lots of fun! i hope that you all enjoyed your holiday as well!